Richard Stearns was the president of World Vision United States, an international Christian relief charity based in Federal Way, Washington, from 1998 to 2018. Biography Stearns holds a bachelor's degree from Cornell University, where he joined the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and studied neurobiology, and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. His professional career began in marketing with the Gillette Company in Boston. From 1977 to 1985, he held various roles with Parker Brothers, culminating in his appointment as president in 1984. In 1985, he became a vice president at The Franklin Mint, then joined Lenox in 1987 as president of Lenox Collections. In 1995, Stearns was named president and chief executive officer of Lenox, Inc., overseeing three divisions, six manufacturing facilities, 4,000 employees, and $500 million in annual sales. He left Lenox when in June 1998 he became president of World Vision. As president of World Vision Inc., Stearns was responsible for U.S. operations, which included advocacy, fundraising, and program development, and prioritized the organization's worldwide attention on the AIDS crisis. Career Stearns’ professional career began in marketing with the Gillette Company in Boston. From 1977 to 1985, he held various roles with Parker Brothers, culminating in his appointment as president in 1984. In 1985, he became a vice president at The Franklin Mint.He joined Lenox in 1987 as president of Lenox Collections, and was named president and CEO of Lenox, Inc. in 1995, overseeing three divisions, six manufacturing facilities, 4,000 employees, and $500 million in annual sales. In June 1998 Stearns left Lenox to become president of the not-for-profit international relief agency World Vision U.S., based in Federal Way, Washington. As president of World Vision, Stearns was responsible for U.S. operations, which included advocacy, fundraising, and program development, and he prioritized the organization's worldwide attention on the AIDS crisis. During his presidency, the organization’s annual revenue grew to over $1 billion as it expanded its work to serve even more children around the world. Stearns led World Vision from 1998 to 2018, when he retired. He currently serves as the President Emeritus. Perspectives Among Stearns’ greatest contributions are his urgent call to the church in America to respond to the global AIDS crisis in the early 2000s and the widespread influence of his first book, The Hole in Our Gospel, winner of the Evangelical Publisher’s Association 2010 Book of the Year award. Toward